Key Points:
- Average summer temperature hit 22.2°C, nearly 2°C above normal
- France faced 27 days of heatwaves, the 2nd-highest on record
- Scientists warn Europe is warming faster than the global average
PARIS: France has endured its third-hottest summer since records began in 1900, the country’s meteorological service Météo-France said on Tuesday in a seasonal climate bulletin, warning that such extremes are becoming the “new normal” as climate change accelerates.
Average temperatures between June and August stood at 22.2°C (71.9°F), around 1.9°C above seasonal norms, making the summer of 2025 only slightly cooler than the scorching summers of 2003 and 2022, according to Météo-France.
The agency noted that the country experienced two major heatwave episodes, in July and August, lasting a total of 27 days—the second-highest number since national records began.
“This summer is yet another confirmation that France and Europe are warming faster than the global average,” Météo-France climatologist Christine Berne told reporters during a press briefing.
Health, Agriculture, and Energy Strain
The Ministry for Ecological Transition said in a statement to the media that the prolonged heat had strained public health systems, triggered spikes in heat-related hospital admissions, and stressed water resources.
Agricultural groups also issued communiqués noting reduced crop yields for maize and sunflower, while the energy sector faced heightened demand for cooling.
“This is a foretaste of what’s to come,” Ecology Minister Christophe Béchu told French broadcaster France Info, warning that adaptation policies, from better building insulation to water management, must accelerate to protect the population and economy.
Broader European and Global Context
France’s climate extremes are part of a wider European trend. The Copernicus Climate Change Service, the EU’s earth-monitoring agency, confirmed in its monthly bulletin that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with temperatures rising at nearly twice the global average. Globally, 2024 was already the hottest year on record, the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a January 2025 report.
Environmental groups argue that France’s record-setting summer underscores the urgent need for stronger emissions reduction policies worldwide.
With more extreme heat expected in coming years, French officials are prioritizing investment in cooling centers, urban green spaces, and heatwave alert systems. Météo-France scientists told journalists that, without decisive action, summers like 2025 could soon become the norm rather than the exception.
